GLASSES OR CONTACT LENSES WHICH

[Des Garvin]

Hi All Users, I was wondering the advantages and disadvantages of using contact lenses whilst flying Gyros. The reason for the question is since having to wear glasses constantly I have observed that one now has periferal vision blur [] where I used to see fine. This is out the sides of the glasses frame to the sides. What drew it to my attention was when driving in a vechical, between the view range of the external rear view mirror on the right,and my clear view through the glasses I did not see the other car, resalting in a near miss of an accident situation, [:0] luckily I was at slow speed. This started me wondering if any Gyro pilots used contact lenses while flying as I could see possible issues of a similar nature here while wearing glasses. Your comments please.What you focus on grows. Des Gravin Bullsbrook Geraldton's (southern suburb) W.A.

[asra]

I am not sure what type of glasses you are wearing Des that would cause a peripheral blur unless you are wearing the multi-focal type that do have that side effect. I tried them years back but could not wear them for that very reason. I personally have great long range vision but need glasses for reading fine print these days. I chose a very lightweight set of bi-focals which have no correction for distance but are great for reading. They are the chromatic type and darken in the sunshine and I have them on all day long as sunglasses. I use them when I drive, fly, work in the workshop, and most everything else. No blur anywhere, and hardly know they are on. Works well in the gyro as I have crystal clear vision both outside and inside the cockpit.PeteBairnsdale,Vic.

[asra]

I am not sure what type of glasses you are wearing Des that would cause a peripheral blur unless you are wearing the multi-focal type that do have that side effect. I tried them years back but could not wear them for that very reason. I personally have great long range vision but need glasses for reading fine print these days. I chose a very lightweight set of bi-focals which have no correction for distance but are great for reading. They are the chromatic type and darken in the sunshine and I have them on all day long as sunglasses. I use them when I drive, fly, work in the workshop, and most everything else. No blur anywhere, and hardly know they are on. Works well in the gyro as I have crystal clear vision both outside and inside the cockpit.PeteBairnsdale,Vic.

[asra]

I am not sure what type of glasses you are wearing Des that would cause a peripheral blur unless you are wearing the multi-focal type that do have that side effect. I tried them years back but could not wear them for that very reason. I personally have great long range vision but need glasses for reading fine print these days. I chose a very lightweight set of bi-focals which have no correction for distance but are great for reading. They are the chromatic type and darken in the sunshine and I have them on all day long as sunglasses. I use them when I drive, fly, work in the workshop, and most everything else. No blur anywhere, and hardly know they are on. Works well in the gyro as I have crystal clear vision both outside and inside the cockpit.PeteBairnsdale,Vic.

[asra]

I am not sure what type of glasses you are wearing Des that would cause a peripheral blur unless you are wearing the multi-focal type that do have that side effect. I tried them years back but could not wear them for that very reason. I personally have great long range vision but need glasses for reading fine print these days. I chose a very lightweight set of bi-focals which have no correction for distance but are great for reading. They are the chromatic type and darken in the sunshine and I have them on all day long as sunglasses. I use them when I drive, fly, work in the workshop, and most everything else. No blur anywhere, and hardly know they are on. Works well in the gyro as I have crystal clear vision both outside and inside the cockpit.PeteBairnsdale,Vic.

[asra]

When getting new specs recently I had what we will call a "frank exchange of opinions" with the optomotrist.It seems that the current fashion is for rather small lenses, sometimes with thick surounding frames. These do not suit my activities, as when flying, motorcycling or mucking about in the skunk works one tends to get foreign bodies in the eyes.Now don't think contacts lenses will give the same protection, nor do I think they will be all that much better for peripheral vision than good old fashioned big lenses, I would regard some of the thick frames as an obstruction.While the progressive lenses are difficult to get used to, after a time they are most satisfactory. One of the initial problems is that everything seems to be bent, but you eventually learn to compensate for this.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.

[asra]

When getting new specs recently I had what we will call a "frank exchange of opinions" with the optomotrist.It seems that the current fashion is for rather small lenses, sometimes with thick surounding frames. These do not suit my activities, as when flying, motorcycling or mucking about in the skunk works one tends to get foreign bodies in the eyes.Now don't think contacts lenses will give the same protection, nor do I think they will be all that much better for peripheral vision than good old fashioned big lenses, I would regard some of the thick frames as an obstruction.While the progressive lenses are difficult to get used to, after a time they are most satisfactory. One of the initial problems is that everything seems to be bent, but you eventually learn to compensate for this.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.

[asra]

When getting new specs recently I had what we will call a "frank exchange of opinions" with the optomotrist.It seems that the current fashion is for rather small lenses, sometimes with thick surounding frames. These do not suit my activities, as when flying, motorcycling or mucking about in the skunk works one tends to get foreign bodies in the eyes.Now don't think contacts lenses will give the same protection, nor do I think they will be all that much better for peripheral vision than good old fashioned big lenses, I would regard some of the thick frames as an obstruction.While the progressive lenses are difficult to get used to, after a time they are most satisfactory. One of the initial problems is that everything seems to be bent, but you eventually learn to compensate for this.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.

[asra]

When getting new specs recently I had what we will call a "frank exchange of opinions" with the optomotrist.It seems that the current fashion is for rather small lenses, sometimes with thick surounding frames. These do not suit my activities, as when flying, motorcycling or mucking about in the skunk works one tends to get foreign bodies in the eyes.Now don't think contacts lenses will give the same protection, nor do I think they will be all that much better for peripheral vision than good old fashioned big lenses, I would regard some of the thick frames as an obstruction.While the progressive lenses are difficult to get used to, after a time they are most satisfactory. One of the initial problems is that everything seems to be bent, but you eventually learn to compensate for this.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.

[telf]

John,Just so you have someone to disagree with :-) I have used both large and small glasses when flying and much prefer small lenses (this goes for sunnies as well).The reason it works for me is that small glasses sat very close to my head and stopped wind from blurring my vision.Larger glasses would allow a lot more wind when my head was turned.I could also wear those clear, hard, wrap around safety specs over the top in winter when I was trying to stop the maximum amount of cold wind possible.Once I started using a helmet with a visor, small glasses were still preferrable to me.If working with a grinder, etc, the safety specs over the small glasses also worked well.I only once used contacts but one shifted and I had to land the drifter one-eyed as the other went blurry.Not good for depth of field when landing.....While I was probably just unlucky that one contact moved, I didn't try them again.Can't comment on bifocals as they're for old people.... [8D][telf dons his asbestos suit and hides from the angry grey mob]telfFlying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[telf]

John,Just so you have someone to disagree with :-) I have used both large and small glasses when flying and much prefer small lenses (this goes for sunnies as well).The reason it works for me is that small glasses sat very close to my head and stopped wind from blurring my vision.Larger glasses would allow a lot more wind when my head was turned.I could also wear those clear, hard, wrap around safety specs over the top in winter when I was trying to stop the maximum amount of cold wind possible.Once I started using a helmet with a visor, small glasses were still preferrable to me.If working with a grinder, etc, the safety specs over the small glasses also worked well.I only once used contacts but one shifted and I had to land the drifter one-eyed as the other went blurry.Not good for depth of field when landing.....While I was probably just unlucky that one contact moved, I didn't try them again.Can't comment on bifocals as they're for old people.... [8D][telf dons his asbestos suit and hides from the angry grey mob]telfFlying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[telf]

John,Just so you have someone to disagree with :-) I have used both large and small glasses when flying and much prefer small lenses (this goes for sunnies as well).The reason it works for me is that small glasses sat very close to my head and stopped wind from blurring my vision.Larger glasses would allow a lot more wind when my head was turned.I could also wear those clear, hard, wrap around safety specs over the top in winter when I was trying to stop the maximum amount of cold wind possible.Once I started using a helmet with a visor, small glasses were still preferrable to me.If working with a grinder, etc, the safety specs over the small glasses also worked well.I only once used contacts but one shifted and I had to land the drifter one-eyed as the other went blurry.Not good for depth of field when landing.....While I was probably just unlucky that one contact moved, I didn't try them again.Can't comment on bifocals as they're for old people.... [8D][telf dons his asbestos suit and hides from the angry grey mob]telfFlying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[telf]

John,Just so you have someone to disagree with :-) I have used both large and small glasses when flying and much prefer small lenses (this goes for sunnies as well).The reason it works for me is that small glasses sat very close to my head and stopped wind from blurring my vision.Larger glasses would allow a lot more wind when my head was turned.I could also wear those clear, hard, wrap around safety specs over the top in winter when I was trying to stop the maximum amount of cold wind possible.Once I started using a helmet with a visor, small glasses were still preferrable to me.If working with a grinder, etc, the safety specs over the small glasses also worked well.I only once used contacts but one shifted and I had to land the drifter one-eyed as the other went blurry.Not good for depth of field when landing.....While I was probably just unlucky that one contact moved, I didn't try them again.Can't comment on bifocals as they're for old people.... [8D][telf dons his asbestos suit and hides from the angry grey mob]telfFlying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[asra]

Come on Telf - you know asbestos is a health hazard[]Seriously though there is a lot of room here for personal preference.I like an open face helmet with a retractable visor, I can then adjust it to suit the circumstances.Your experience with the moving contact seems to rule them out, particularly when you realise that if you need correction for disant vision you are required to have spare correction with you.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.

[asra]

Come on Telf - you know asbestos is a health hazard[]Seriously though there is a lot of room here for personal preference.I like an open face helmet with a retractable visor, I can then adjust it to suit the circumstances.Your experience with the moving contact seems to rule them out, particularly when you realise that if you need correction for disant vision you are required to have spare correction with you.John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.